TIVERTON

From White's Devonshire Directory of 1850

TIVERTON, an ancient borough and market town, formerly
principal seat of the woollen manufacture, and now noted for its
extensive lace manufactory, and its numerous charities, is
pleasantly situated on the sloping banks at the confluence of the
river Exe and the Loman rivulet, 13 miles N. by E. of Exeter, 62
miles S.W. of Bristol, and 165 miles W. by S. of London, by road,
or 184 by rails. It has a branch railway, which extends 51
miles eastward to the Bristol and Exeter line, and was opened in
June, 1848. The Grand Western Canal extends north-eastward
from this town to Taunton, where it joins the navigation to
Bridgewater and the Bristol Channel. This canal is 23 miles in
length, and is used chiefly for supplying the neighbouring
districts with lime, coal, corn, manure, &c. It has very
ingenious machinery in lieu of the ordinary methods of raising
barges from one level to another, and is worked on friendly terms
with the railway, under the able management of H.J. Smith, Esq. It
is the only portion ever completed of that extensive scheme - the
Grand Western Canal, for which an act of parliament was obtained in
1796, and which was intended to have proceeded southward to
Topsham, and thus to have opened a direct inland navigation from
the English to the Bristol Channel. The situation of this ancient
town, on the southern declivity between the Exe and the Loman, over
which it had two fords, gave it the name of Twy-ford, or
Two-ford-town, which has since been corrupted to
Tiverton. The PARISH OF TIVERTON is co-extensive with the
Borough, and comprises no less than 16,790 acres of fertile land,
picturesquely undulated, and forming an irregularly shaped
district, extending in two directions five miles, and in others one
to three miles from the town. Its total population amounted
in 1801 to 6505, in 1831 to 9766, and in 1841 to 10,770 souls, of
whom 7769 were in the town, and the others in the four
QUARTERS of the parish, viz., 465 in Clare; 740 in
Pitt; 488 in Prior's; and 578 in Tidcombe.
These quarters contain several hamlets, and many scattered
farm-houses, neat villas, &c. In Pitt Quarter, which extends
four miles north, are the small villages of Chettescombe,
Bolham, and Cove. In Tidcombe Quarter, are the hamlets
of Chevithorne, West and East Mere, Craze-Loman, and
Manley, extending two miles east and north-east. In Clare
Quarter are Palmer's and Withleigh villages, and many
scattered houses, extending two miles westward. In Prior Quarter is
the hamlet Ashley, the seats of Ashley Court, Ashley House,
and Collipriest House, and many scattered houses, extending two
miles south of the town. The MANOR of TIVERTON, which had been part
of the royal demesne, was given by Henry I. to the Earl of Devon,
who is supposed to have built the Castle here about the year
1100. Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, who died in 1419, was a
distinguished admiral, and made Tiverton Castle his chief place of
residence. After the battle of Tewksbury, in which the Earl of
Devon was slain, in the cause of Henry VI., this manor was seized
by the Crown, but was restored to the succeeding Earl of Devon in
1485. Catherine, widow of William Earl of Devon, and daughter of
Edward IV., died at Tiverton Castle in 1517, and a handsome
monument was erected to her memory; but this and the other
monuments of the Courtenay family, with the chapel which contained
them, were destroyed in the civil wars. In 1643, the royalists
drove the parliamentarians from Tiverton. The Earl of Essex and the
King were here with the army in 1644. In Oct., 1645, Sir Gilbert
Talbot was governor of Tiverton; but General Massey marched thither
from Collumpton, and took possession of the town. Sir Thomas
Fairfax joined the latter on the 18th, and on the following day,
the church, castle, and outworks were taken by storm, and Sir
Gilbert Talbot, several officers, and 200 privates were taken
prisoners. In December, Sir Thomas Fairfax made Tiverton the
head-quarters of his army. In 1549, during the commotion occasion
by the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer, and the enclosure
of the monastic lands, a battle was fought at Cranmore, between the
insurgents and the King's army: the former were soon disperse, and
several of them hanged and quartered. (See pages 55 and 56) Edward
VI. gave the manor of Tiverton to the Duke of Somerset, and in 1556
it passed to the heirs of the four sisters of Edward, Earl of
Devon. Their several shares were afterwards sold to various
purchasers. The CASTLE was purchased by Roger Gifford, Esq., and in
1605 was sold to John West, Esq. In 1728, the castle and
six-eighths of the manor and hundred of Tiverton, passed with a
co-heiress of the Wests to the Carews, and they now belong, with
another eighth of the manor, to Sir W.P. Carew, Bart., but a great
part of the parish is freehold. belonging to John Heathcoat, Esq.,
M.P., of Bolham House; J.F. Griffiths, Esq., and many
smaller proprietors. The CASTLE, which stands on the hill north of
the town, was dismantled after the civil wars; but the habitable
part of it was afterwards formed into a mansion, for the residence
of the Wests, and was occupied by the late Lady Carew. It is now
occupied by two families, and near it are some remains of the
towers and gateways of the ancient fortress. Tiverton is the head
of a large UNION, as noticed at page 303.

It is considered one of the healthiest and principal towns of
Devon, and was known by the name of Twyford as early as 872.
Nearly three centuries ago it had become a principal seat of the
woollen manufacture; but it afterwards lost much of its trade, in
consequence of repeated calamities by fire, in one of which,
in 1612, no less than 600 houses were destroyed. The property
consumed on these various occasions was immense, and utterly
impoverished the inhabitants. In 1625, a flood destroyed 53
houses; and the town suffered severely from a great storm in
1703. The last calamitous visitations by fire were in 1731, when
298 houses were destroyed, and in 1785 and 1788, when 67 were burnt
to the ground. The chief cause of these devastating conflagrations
appears to have been the prevalence of straw thatched roofs. In
1731, after the great fire of that year, an Act was obtained
for the substitution of slated and leaded roofs, and for the
rebuilding of the town, and determining differences touching the
houses destroyed by the late fire, and for the better prevention of
such calamities in future. Acts for paving, lighting, and
otherwise improving the town, were obtained in the 34th of George
III., and the fourth of George IV. Under the act of 1731, the
streets were widened, and the new houses regularly built. The
town has now four principal streets, and is about a mile in
length and breadth. The central part of it is between the Exe, and
the Loman, on the slope of the hill, which rises gently to the
north from the angle formed by their confluence. Both streams are
crossed by stone bridges, and that over the Exe has a considerable
endowment for its support, as afterwards noticed. A stream called
the Town Leat, which rises about five miles above the town,
and still supplies the inhabitants with water, was given by
Isabel, Countess of Devon, about 1262, and was so contrived as to
run through the principal streets. Since 1831, the Gas Works
at Messrs. Heathcoat's factory have been purchased and enlarged by
a company of proprietors, and the now supply many of the shops and
houses, and about 90 street lamps, at the rate of 7s. 4d. per 1000
cubic feet. Tiverton is now one of the cleanest and best built
towns of its size in the West, and its inhabitants have long been
characterised for social intercourse: assemblies and concerts are
often held, and many friendly societies, clubs, &c., have been
formed for mutual benefit. The town has a Lodge of Free Masons, a
Lodge of Odd Fellows, and an Agricultural Society. A spacious
Market Place, with convenient approaches, was built in 1830;
and over the entrance from Fore street, were built at the same time
large Subscription Rooms, for assemblies, reading,
billiards, &c. The reading room is well supplied with
newspapers and periodicals; and in the same street are commodious
rooms, occupied by the recently formed Literary and Scientific
Institution. There is a small Theatre in Peter street.
Races are held about the end of August. Sir W.P. Carew,
Bart., is master of the Tiverton Hunt, which has a full pack
of fine hounds. The markets, held every Tuesday and
Saturday, are well supplied with provisions, and the former is a
considerable market for corn, cattle, &c. There are also
great markets for cattle four times a year, on one of the
Tuesdays in February, April, August, and December. Two fairs
for cattle, horses, wool, &c., are held on the second Tuesday
after Trinity Sunday, and on Michaelmas-day. A market and fair were
established here before A.D. 1200. The manufacture of serges,
druggets, drapeens, and other woollen goods at Tiverton, began to
decline about the year 1740, though in 1790 there were in the town
and vicinity 1000 looms and 200 wool combers. Here are now only two
blanket, serge, and flannel manufactories; but in
1815, a large woollen mill, which had been built in 1790, was
purchased by Messrs. Heathcoat and Co., who, by extensive
additions, converted it into an immense Lace Manufactory,
which, now employs about 1500 men, women, and children. In 1809
they obtained a 14 years' patent for a greatly improved lace or
bobbin net machine and built a large factory at
Loughborough; but owing to the damage done to their machinery by
the Luddites of the Midland Counties, they removed to Tiverton and
greatly augmented the prosperity of that town. Their machinery here
is chiefly set in, motion by a water wheel, 25 feet broad, and 25
feet in diameter, and they have lately commenced a large iron
foundry in their gigantic establishment.

CORPORATION. - In 1615, James I. granted the inhabitants of
Tiverton. a charter of incorporation, with the privilege of sending
two members to parliament; and in the same year, they built the
Town Hall, on the site of St. Thomas's chapel. The privileges
granted by this were confirmed by a charter of the 11th of George
I., styling the corporation "the mayor and burgesses of the town
and parish of Tiverton," and directing that the common council
should consist of the mayor, 12 capital burgesses, and 12
assistants; and that the mayor, ex-mayor, and the recorder, should
be justices of the peace. Under the Municipal Reform Act of 1815,
the borough is included among those which are to have a commission
of the peace, a court of quarter sessions, &c., and is divided
into three wards, and placed under the government of the borough
magistrates, a recorder, a mayor, six aldermen, and 18 councillors.
The income of the old corporation in 1833 was only £116, but
its expenditure was £160, the difference being paid by the
mayor. In 1841, the expenditure of the borough was £628, and
its income £695. The number of burgesses entitled to vote for
the two parliamentary representatives of the borough in 1837 was
496. It was formerly a "close borough," 23 being the greatest
number polled for 30 years previous to 1831. Its present MEMBERS OF
PARLIAMENT are John Heathcoat, Esq., the great lace
manufacturer; and Viscount Palmerston, the present highly
distinguished and talented foreign secretary. The former has
represented the borough since 1835, and the latter since 1837. The
Town Hall or Guildhall, built in 1615, was repaired
and modernised in 1788, and has lately been enlarged; but the
spacious Mayoralty Room over the adjoining bank is still retained.
A spacious and handsome Borough Gaol and House of
Correction was built in 1845-6, on the model plan of the
separate system, at the cost of about £4000. The Borough
Court of Record has given place to the County Court, held
here monthly for all the 27 parishes in Tiverton Union. (See page
303) John Tyrrell, Esq., is judge of this court; T.L.T.
Rendell, Esq., clerk; and Mr. Richd. Grant Tucker, high
bailiff.

The PARISH CHURCH (St. Peter,) which has about 1300
sittings, is one of the largest and handsomest parish churches in
the county, consisting of a spacious nave, chancel, and side
aisles, with a south porch and a lofty tower, containing 8 bells.
Though the work of different ages, it is tolerably uniform in
style. The aisles are separated by clustered columns and pointed
arches, and a rich Gothic screen divides the nave, and chancel. The
interior was cleansed, repaired, and newly-seated a few years ago,
and the altar-piece is a fine painting of "The Wise Men offering to
Christ" given by the late Rev. Robt. Hole, in 1841. The exterior of
the porch and chapel, created by John Greenway in the reign of
Henry VIII., is richly sculptured with tracery, and subjects taken
from scripture history. The porch was rebuilt in 1825, when the
sculpture was renewed by Mr. Wm. Beck. In the chapel is a painting
of "Peter delivered from Prison by the Angel." A library,
bequeathed to the parish by the Rev. J . Newte, is in a room over
the vestry. The Rectory is in four portions, of which the
following are the names, with the incumbents, the number of acres
in each, the glebe, and the yearly sums for which the tithes were
commuted. in 1841 :- Pitt Portion (5840A.,) Rev. John
Spurway, M.A., £850, the glebe 30 acres; Tidcombe
Portion (3920A.,) Rev. W. Rayer, M.A., £757, glebe 90
acres; Clare Portion (3550A.,) Rev. J.D. Lloyd, M.A.,
£568; and Prior's Portion (3185A.,) Rev. H.P. Measor,
B.A., £400. The tithes of 1155A. in other parts of this
extensive parish are commuted for £66, which is divided
yearly among the four rectors. King's College, Cambridge, has the
patronage of Prior's Portion, and the other three are in the
alternate patronage of the Earl of Harrowby, Sir W.P. Carew, and
the heirs of the late Sir R. Vyvyan and the late Rev. W. Spurway.
Four houses with gardens and a close of 1A. been vested from an
early period for the reparation. of the church. ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH
at the west end of Fore street, is a plain structure with a bell
turret. It was commenced in 1714, but not finished till 1730, nor
consecrated tilt 1733. It has several neat monuments, one of which
is in memory of Henry Blagdon, Esq., who died in 1716, and gave
£150 towards the erection. The four rectors and their curates
perform duty here alternately, and also at the three following
chapels of ease in other parts of the parish. Cove Chapel,
in Pitt quarter, is an old dilapidated building, but it is in
contemplation to rebuild it. Withleigh Chapel, in Clare
quarter, 3 miles W. of the town, is a neat building, erected in
1846 by subscription; and a school was built near it in 1849.
Chevithorne Chapel, in Tidcombe quarter, about 2 miles N.E.
of the town, is a handsome fabric, erected in 1843, at the cost of
about £2000, of which £1500 was given by the Rev. Wm.
Rayer, rector of this portion of the parish. There were formerly
several ancient chapels in the town, and in other quarters of the
parish, but few traces of them are now extant. On the western side
of the town is a small Roman Catholic Chapel, built in 1838.
The Baptist Chapel, in Newport street, was built in 1730, on
the site of one built about 1687. The Independent Chapel, in
Peter street, is a large stone building, erected in 1831-2, at the
cost of £4683, including the cost of the land, and the school
and minister's house. There is another Independent Chapel,
in Elmore street, built in 1843, at the cost of £750. The
Wesleyan Chapel, in Peter street, was built in 1814; and in
Andrew street is a small Bible Christian Chapel, erected in 1843.
These chapels have been mostly erected in lieu of old ones. There
was a Presbyterian Chapel here as early as 1672, and the ancient
chapel of St Peter was occupied by Independent, in 1687. John
Wesley himself opened a chapel here in 1750. Sunday Schools,
Religious Societies, &c., are liberally supported here by
the congregations of the churches and chapels, and the parish has
several endowed schools and many valuable charities.

In 1803, Mary Marshall left £200 five per cent.
Bank Annuities, in trust that one-half of the yearly dividends
should be applied in clothing poor children attending the Sunday
school; and that the other half should be divided among the two
sextons and four rodmen, of the parish church, except
what was necessary for keeping her tomb in repair.

To provide a fund for repairing St. George's Church and
her tomb in the church-yard, MARY PEARD in 1769 gave a farm of 65A.
at Awliscombe, and the sum of £1000. The latter, with savings
of income, has been invested in the purchase of £1600 three
per cent. consols; and the farm is let for about £80 a
year.

The Independent Chapel, in Peter street, called Steps
Meeting-house, has an endowment for the support of the
minister, amounting to £50. 18s. per annum, arising from
land, house, and stock, left by Thomas and Joan Keene, Thos.
Enchmarsh, John Tristram, Eliza Lichigaray, and Mrs. F. Warren. The
Baptist Chapel has an endowment of 20s. a year for the poor
of the congregation, and about £55 a year for the use of the
minister, arising from property left by Thos. Glass, M.D., Richd.
Hooper, and other donors. The minister's house and garden were
given in 1810 by Faith Chorlock, together with two cottages.

BLUNDELL'S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, &c. - Peter Blundell, by
his will in 1599, directed his executors to lay out £2400 in
the purchase of land, and the erection thereon of a school-house
and offices for the accommodation of a master, usher, and about 150
scholars; the latter to be boys not above 18, nor under six years
of age, born or for the most part brought up in the parish of
Tiverton. For the maintenance of the said Free Grammar
School, he devised all his lands and tenements in Devonshire to
27 trustees, and directed them to pay yearly salaries of £50
to the master and 20 marks to the usher, on condition that they
should teach the scholars without any charge to their parents or
friends. He also directed £20 a year to be applied in
apprenticing four poor boys in husbandry; and he ordered his
executors to bestow £2000 in establishing six
scholarships for students of divinity from this school at
Oxford or Cambridge. Mr. Blundell, the liberal founder of this
school, raised himself by his own industry from the rank of a poor
clothier to that of a rich merchant, and often said that, though he
was no scholar himself, he would be the means of making many. In
1678, Jno. Ham gave £200 towards the maintenance of a
scholar from this school at Oxford or Cambridge. In 1783, Benj.
Gilberd left £2000 three per cent. stock to be applied
for the benefit of this school at the discretion of the trustees.
In 1800, Richd. Down transferred £700 three per cent.
consols to the mayor and corporation, in trust to pay the dividends
towards the support of a scholar from this school at one of the
Universities. in 1715, certain lands were left by John Newte
to Baliol College, Oxford, for the support of a scholar there, to
be chosen out of Blundell's school by the four rectors of Tiverton.
The property now belonging to the school produces an annual income
of about £650, of which more than £210 arises from the
dividends of stock. Out of this income, the following yearly
salaries are paid, viz.: - £60 to the master, £20 to
the usher, and £14 to the treasurer. The school
buildings are well adapted for a large establishment. The
master, who has the care of the upper school, has a house capable
of accommodating about 100 boarders, with a garden and meadow. The
usher, who instructs the lower school, has a garden and a house
capable of containing 40 boarders. This school. was formerly in
high repute, and had often from 50 to 100 boarders, but no boarders
have been admitted since 1847, and there are now only about 60 free
scholars. The sum of £2750, derived from Peter Blundell's
will, was laid out in estates, vested with Baliol College, Oxford,
and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, for the maintenance of four
fellows and four scholars. In addition to their
emoluments derived from the colleges, the four scholars receive an
allowance of £30 each per ann. from the funds of this
charity; as also does another scholar and two exhibitioners under
Gilberd's gift. The exhibitioner under Ham's gift receives
£23 a year. The trustees expend large sums in repairing the
school buildings, &c., and about £26 a year in
apprenticing 4 poor boys.

CHILCOTT'S FREE SCHOOL, &c. - Robt. Comyn, alias
Chilcott, by will in 1609, directed his executors to build a
school-house at the cost of £400, and vest it with thirteen
trustees, to whom he left a yearly rent-charge of £90, to be
applied as follows, viz. :- £20 to the schoolmaster for
teaching the poor boys of Tiverton; £2 for repairing the
school; £3 to the clerk for keeping the accounts of his
charity; £16. 10s. for 15 poor people of Tiverton; £15
for 15 poor artificers; £19. 10s. to provide weekly, 6d. each
in bread and money for 15 poor parishioners; £10 towards
repairing the church; and £1 towards repairing the highway to
Butterleigh mill. This rent-charge, after deducting £12 for
land tax, is paid by the Duke of Leeds out of lands in Yorkshire.
In 1790, Benj. Gilberd left £300 for the augmentation
of the schoolmaster's salary, and it was laid out in the purchase
of 7s. 11d. three per cent. consols. In 1802, Richd. Davis left
£50 to be applied in buying books for six or the most
deserving scholars. With this sum £75 three per cent. consols
were purchased. There is also belonging to the charity £100
of the same stock, purchased with savings of income in 1802. The
school is in Peter street, where there is a house and garden for
the master, who teaches reading, and writing to 100 boys on the
National system. He has a yearly salary of £20, and is
allowed 2s. 6d. per quarter for each of the boys for pens, ink, and
paper. All the boys pay 6d. entrance money, and those who learn
arithmetic 1s. 6d. per quarter. Two almswomen, in Birchen lane,
have 3s. a week from Chilcott's Charity.

The CHARITY SCHOOLS, formerly in the Church yard, now occupy
commodious buildings in Frog street, built in 1811. These schools,
where 50 boys and 50 girls are educated, and clothed in blue, were
established in 1713, and were at first supported by subscriptions
and collections at sermons, but they have now an endowment yielding
a clear annual income of about £200, arising as follows:-
£90 from Great Holwell and Hare Hill farms (115A.,) purchased
with £1000, left in 1715 by Henry Blagdon; £71
from 26A. at Collumpton, and other property, left in 1719 by
Peter Newte; £30 from 28A. at Ashley, left in 1721 by
John Tristram; £93 from £2100 Old South Sea
Annuities, and a farm of 59A. called Middleway, derived from the
bequest of Mary Peard, in 1777; and £4. 5s. 2d. from
£106. 10s. 6d. four per cent. stock, purchased with
£100, left by Benj. Gilberd, in 1792. About 30
children of either sex are admitted in consideration of these
benefactions, by the respective trustees, and every annual
subscriber of £3 has the nomination of two scholars. They are
clothed once a year, and the girls make their own clothes and the
caps, shirts, and stockings for the boys. The master has about
£54, and the mistress £26 per annum; and they have each
a dwelling house; and fuel, books, stationery, bibles, prayer
books, are provided by the trustees.

The NATIONAL SCHOOL, in St. Andrew is a large and handsome
building in the Swiss style, erected in 1844, at the cost of about
£2000, and having dwellings for the master and mistress in
the centre, and school rooms on either side, attended by about 140
boys and 80 girls. The BRITISH SCHOOL, in Leat street, adjoining
the large factory of Messrs. Heathcoat and Co., is a spacious and
handsome structure, in the Elizabethan style, built in 1844 by John
Heathcoat, Esq., M.P., and solely supported by him. It has three
school rooms for boys, girls, and infants, and the Committee of
Council of Education have lately appointed 14 pupil teachers to
assist the master and two mistresses. It is attended by 180 boys,
150 girls, and 240 infants. There is another large and handsome
BRITISH SCHOOL, in Elmore street, built in 1848 by Ambrose Brewin,
Esq., and entirely supported by him, for the education of about 100
boys and 50 girls, under a master, mistress, and six pupil
teachers. The Infant School, in Bampton street, was also
built by A. Brewin, Esq., in 1847, and is supported by him, and
attended by 100 children.

Village Schools, &c.:- The rector of Tidcombe pays
£3 a year to a schoolmistress at Cove, for teaching 12
children to read. This sum arises from one-eighth of the rent of
Buckhays farm, left by the Rev. John Newte, in 1715. About
£4 a year is distributed in bibles and prayer books among the
poor parishioners, as one half of the rent of Bible Field, given by
the same donor. For instructing ten poor children of
Chevithorne, and providing them with books, about £5 a
year is paid out of Pleshy's and Whitedown farm, (130A.) as
one-eighth of the rent of that estate, left by Peter Newte,
in 1749. Though the land is poor, a much larger share ought to be
paid to the four rectors, as trustees of this charity.

The proceeds of the seven following CHARITIES, amounting to
about £100 per annum, are distributed by the Borough
Charity Trustees, appointed under the powers of the Municipal
Act, for the management of all the charities vested with the
Corporation. The ELMORE LANDS, (16A.) were held of the Crown at it
nominal rent, from 1806 till 1837, but they were sold in the latter
year, and all that now remains of this once valuable charity are
the dividends of £250 navy five per cent. stock. It is said
that Elmore was given by Madam Elson de Rosse, in 1250, to
remain for ever a common for the use of the poor parishioners; and
that it formerly comprised 150A. It was afterwards seized by the
Crown, and part of it granted on lease for the benefit of the poor,
who, in 1837, vainly petitioned for a renewal of the lease. John
Berry, in 1618, gave a house and 15A. of land, at West
Chevithorne, to the Corporation, in trust to pay yearly 50s. each
to two labourers, one weaver and a fuller, and to apply the rest of
the income to their own use. This estate now yields a clear annual
rent of about £35. In 1623, another John Berry left to
the Corporation £60, to be invested in land, for the relief
of the poor. The land purchased was sold to the Canal Company, in
1814, for £250, which was laid out in the purchase of
£267 navy five per cents. The sum of £100, given by
Daniel Cudmore and Geo. Hartnoll, in 1637 and 1662,
was laid out in the purchase of 4A. of land, now let for about
£13. In 1663, Thomas Leigh left to the Mayor and
burgesses all his eighth part of the market tolls of Tiverton, in
trust for the relief of the most indigent poor of the borough. This
gift yields about £22 per annum. In 1747, the Corporation
laid out £115 poor's money in the purchase of 2A. of land,
called The Shillands, now let for about £12 per annum.
The poor have 1s. worth of bread weekly from Sir John Acland's
Charity. (See Exeter.)

GREE,NWAY'S CHARITY:- In 1529, John Greenway founded an
ALMSHOUSE here for five poor men, and endowed it with property then
worth only £8. 123s. per annum, but now yielding about
£270 a year, including £60 a year, paid in
consideration of the old parish Workhouse, and £27. 10s.
derived from the seat rents in Greenway's chapel in St. Peter's
church The charity property comprises also a farm at Dipford, let
for £52. 10s., and seven houses, and various parcels of land
in Tiverton. The almshouses, in Gold street, have been several
times repaired and enlarged, and the number of almspeople
increased, in proportion to the augmented value of the endowment.
The principal management of the charity rests with the town
churchwarden, the fourteen trustees never interfering, except in
the granting of leases. There are at present on the foundation 25
almsmen, who have a yearly supply of coals. They are paid weekly
stipends, varying from 5s. to 2s. 7d. each.

WALDRON'S ALMSHOUSES, in Wellbrook street, were built for the
reception of eight poor men, by John Waldron, who endowed them, in
1577, with a yearly rent charge of £24, out of the manor of
Daccombe. The eight almsmen are appointed by the churchwardens, and
each has a weekly stipend of 1s. They have also divided among them
£5 a year from Enchurch's Gift.

SLEE'S ALMSHOUSES, in Peter street, were founded in 1610, for
six poor widows, or aged maidens, by George Slee, who left
£500 for their erection and endowment. The endowment is a
yearly rent charge of £20, out of the rectory of Coldridge,
and from it each almswoman has 1s. per week. The churchwardens are
the trustees, and the almswomen have each a further weekly
allowance of 1s. from the dividends of £360 navy five per
cent. stock, left by Mary Marshall, in 1803. The residue of
these dividends is divided among the most necessitous poor
parishioners, according to the donor's will.

JOHN LANE, in 1679, left 10A. of land, at Buckland, in
Somersetshire, (now let for about £30,) and a yearly rent
charge of £12. 10s. out of an estate called Slade, at
Sheldon. Agreeable to the donor's will, the yearly proceeds are
applied as follows: - 20s. in bibles for poor boys of Chilcott's
school; about £22 in distributions of clothing to six poor
people of Tiverton, and two of Collumpton; 3s. per month to each of
the said eight poor people; and about £3. 3s. for an annual
dinner for them and the trustees. Twenty poor men of Tiverton have
9s, 6d. each yearly, from a rent charge of £9. 10s., left by
ROBT. CHATTEY, about 1680, out of a house called Priddice's
Tenement. Thirty-two aged poor of the town have divided among them
£3. 6s. per annum, arising from six chief rents, purchased
with £70 left by WM. HEWITT, in 1689. JOHN ALSTONE, in 1696,
left an almshouse and adjoining tenements for six poor shearmen,
and £500 to be invested for the use of the general poor of
Tiverton. Owing to the mis-management of former trustees, all that
now remains of this charity is part of the almshouse occupied by
three poor fullers, and a reserved rent of 7s. 6d. per annum. MARY
RICE, in 1697, left the residue of her real and personal property,
to be vested in trust, and the yearly proceeds to be distributed in
sums of 40s. each among her poor relations of the families of
Morrish, Lane, and Tanner, or in default of such, among the honest
and pious poor parishioners of Tiverton. The property belonging to
this charity now yields an annual income of about £180,
arising as follows - £120 from Rix farm, (50A.) at Bolham;
£31 from the White Bull Inn; £12. 10s. from the Bampton
turnpike, and the rest from the interest of money. The clear income
is distributed half-yearly among about 80 poor people, appointed by
the trustees, who give a preference to the relations of the
foundress. In 1785, MARY MARSHALL left for the poor of Tiverton
£100, which was laid out in the purchase of £100 navy
five per cent. stock. The dividends are distributed in sums of 2s.
or 3s. In 1790, BENJAMIN GILBERD *left £1000 to be invested
in stock, and the yearly dividends to be distributed at Christmas,
among the poor not receiving parochial relief. This charity now
consists of £1090 three per cent. consols. In 1808, RICHARD
DOWN gave £500 three per cent. consols, in trust that 20s.
worth of bread should be distributed fifteen times a year among the
poor, after the administration of the Sacrament in St. Peter's
church and St. George's chapel.

WALTER TYRRELL, in 1568, left £200 to be invested for the
use of the poor, by John Waldron, who, in consideration thereof,
granted a yearly rent charge of £10. 13s. out of the manor of
Daccombe, to be applied by the churchwardens in weekly sums of 8d.
each to six poor people. ROBFRT REED, in 1621, left £100 to
provide for a weekly distribution of 3s. worth of bread among
twelve poor people. The Mayor and burgesses applied this money for
the redemption of the Town House, out of which they pay £7.
10s. yearly, in satisfaction, of this charity. RICHARD HILL, in
1630, left to the Mayor and burgesses an annuity of £12. 2s.
8d., for the weekly distribution of 4d. worth of bread each to
fourteen poor parishioners. Out of this rent charge £1. 14s.
8d. is deducted for land tax, and the rest is distributed among
twelve poor people. It is paid out of three closes, two of which
are called Lowman and Alsabrook meadows. EDW. BLAGDON, in 1653,
granted four houses and a garden and orchard, in Barrington street,
to four trustees, for the equal benefit of two poor men of
Tiverton, and two of Washfield parish. These premises were burnt
down in 1832, and rebuilt in 1833-4, and now yield a clear yearly
profit of about £17. A house and two acres of land, left by
JOHN LOVELL, in 1673, are let for £21 a year, and one-fourth
of the rent belongs to the poor of Tiverton, and three-fourths to
the poor of Bickleigh. PETER ATKINS, in 1657, granted a yearly rent
charge of £10 to the poor of Tiverton, out of an estate
called Padcott and Burridge. For many years the overseers
improperly applied this annuity in aid of the poor rates. The poor
parishioners have also £10, and the trustees 10s. yearly,
left by GREGORY SHORLAND, in 1658, out of an estate, called
Bengewall. Six poor people of Clare Quarter, and four of Prior's
Quarter, have 15s., and the trustees 5s. yearly, left by THOMAS
MAUNDER, in the 24th of Charles II., out of land at Querk Hill.

EXE BRIDGE TRUST comprises 32 houses, with gardens, &c.,
which were let on leases for two or three lives, at rents which
amounted, in 1820, to only £18. 5s. 8d., though their real
value was then upwards of £300 per annum; but, as the leases
expire, the trustees now let the property at rack rent. Part of
this property was vested in trust by Walter Tyrrell and
Johan, his wife, in 1563, who directed that the yearly proceeds
should be applied, as far as necessary, in repairing West Exe
Bridge, in Tiverton, and that the surplus, if any, should be
distributed among the poor parishioners. Of the houses now in
existence, some were rebuilt after the fire in 1785, and the
remainder after a similar calamity in 1794. About 30 years ago,
upwards of £1500 was expended in repairing and widening the
bridge, and, until recently, the poor derived but little benefit
from the charity.

MARKET TRUST: - By the gifts of John West in 1628, Wm.
Spurway in 1650, and Sir John and Mr. Jonathan
Trelawney in 1654, several houses and gardens, and
seven-eighths of the market tolls of Tiverton, were vested with
trustees for the benefit of the poor parishioners. The market-house
was built on the site of a house which was burnt down in 1731, and
the site of it and several adjoining houses is held by the trustees
on a lease for 1000 years, at the annual rent of £30. The
market-house and seven-eigths of the tolls produce about £196
yearly, besides which the trustees derive £29 from the rents
of eight houses, let on 99 years' leases. The net income, amounting
to about £167 per annum, is dispensed in weekly doles of
bread to about 120 poor parishioners.

Brian Randell, 1 Feb 1999

Note: The information provided by GENUKI must not be
used for commercial purposes, and all specific restrictions
concerning usage, copyright notices, etc., that are to be found on
individual information pages within GENUKI must be strictly adhered
to. Violation of these rules could gravely harm the cooperation
that GENUKI is obtaining from many information providers, and hence
threaten its whole future.